HEY!
This is qlf! Hi there!
First off, I'd like to thank;
ravenkakashiluv26, The Amethyst Eyes, Gingerstorm101, KraZiiePyrozhavemoreFun, Lust for life, GreenNightStar, sinomin.
But most of all...I wanna thank, SRF herself. She does the work, she's the brains. I add words, I take out words, I update, and I throw ideas around in emails...but SRF, is the amazing one! She's truly talented! I really hope you guys all see this too!
Enjoy, and remember that we OWN NOTHING.
As soon as the sun rose, the day started on a different foot. The routine was destroyed, Slade, not Raven, decided a morning spar might be more beneficial.
"Now, Raven, I have a feeling that this will be one of the last times we'll spar one on one, so fight your hardest, and see what you've learnt."
Raven didn't know what to think of that...their last spar? She was learning, she begrudgingly admitted, and she wasn't sure she wanted it to end. Sure, she hadn't been full on training, but as least she had improved.
For the first time, he started the spar, by aiming to kick her. She blocked with speed. Beneath his mask, a tight, unseen smile showed approval.
As the fight progressed, it was obvious who the victor was going to be. It had pretty much always been understandable, but at least Raven had actually had a chance, she had defended well...right up until she was a second too late, and couldn't always avoid Slade's lightning fast strikes. No matter how hard they were, or how rapidly they flew at her, she still knew he was holding back.
She, however, had also obviously improved. Her moves had more of a faster, swifter grace, than before. Her movements almost mimicked his, and Robin surely would notice this. She'd just have to stay out of combat.
Slade decided to end the fight, by tripping her. She stood, and gave the smallest smile. Raven knew he'd win anyways, but she'd still done well.
"Excellent, Raven. I can see the improvement you've made." Pride was one word to describe how he felt, but also he felt the nostalgia. He wanted an apprentice; he wanted someone to be by his side. He wanted a friend.
Her lips tweaked slightly, corners lifting higher, though it was still a small smile. "Thank you, Slade."
"You're welcome, Raven. But I did notice that you were... distracted. Why?"
That man just had to ask! She was annoyed. Was she really that easy to figure out? "Well, Slade, I think I've found an easy way to get out, so I guess we'll be moving tomorrow."
Raven moved to sit on a blanket, Slade coming beside her. She didn't even mind the invasion of personal space.
"How long have we been here, Slade?" How long? It felt like an eternity! She guessed it'd only been a short while, though she felt she'd gone through more than that.
"A few weeks, give or take a few days. There's no way of knowing for sure."
"When we're back to Jump, will you not fight the Titans?" It was a question she was just dying to ask. Would he though?
"Perhaps." Again with the indefinite answers. He spoke before she could ask anything else, "What's your escape plan, Raven?"
"Well, Slade, we have a bond, so that means I can touch you with my powers, with no repercussions. You have mental barriers, which I now know, so I can make contact with you without me gaining anything about you. So, if I just grabbed us with my powers, and dragged us over there, to the Portals, then we could escape. Also, since I lift things with my powers easily, it won't be too heavy. It's stupid I didn't figure it out earlier."
Slade chuckled in amusement, as the girl chided herself. "A good escape plan. Good things do come to those who wait. This inevitably means I must thank you for the idea to get us out. I do think it'll work."
"If you're thanking me for that then I thank you for everything else. It's been a good few weeks, Slade. Thank you for understanding me, helping me, teaching me. It's more than I could've asked for."
She felt... exposed, for saying that to her enemy. No, she corrected herself. He wasn't her foe anymore.
"Touching, Raven. Thank you for teaching me, as I must say that our time together has been very...thrilling."
"Seriously though, I just feel as though my skills have improved with you as a teacher. I've been coping better, and actually think I could do a little bit of hand to hand combat. I mean what I say, Slade. You're a good coach."
"Raven, thank you, but I haven't taught you very much. That, was just a sample of my guidance that I now offer to you."
Raven sighed. She couldn't just pack up and train with him. It would be good to learn more, but she didn't want to betray the titans.
"Even though I'd like to learn, I decline the offer." No apology was made.
"Surely though, you are intelligent. So, who has educated to you all these things? I mean about your powers, and not about everything else."
Should she tell him? She pondered on the possibilities... Dear Azar, she thought. What could he do with the information? He could hardly reach her mother, as she was... gone. He couldn't do anything to a goddess too...
"My father must've told you I come from Azarath, and the Goddess there is called Azar. She was kind, and helped me to control myself and my emotions." It was spoken in a monotone, with no emotion. It was just a way to cope with telling him.
"Enough talk, Raven. I sense there has been enough. I propose a challenge, which I think you'll find amusing."
She was curious, for once. Why would Slade give her a challenge? Raven didn't know how to feel.
"You see that tree, next to you?" Raven turned to look at it. It, towered above her, seeming to reach the sky, and was a mass of trunks that seemingly melded together. She nodded.
"Climb it. I'll race you." Oh, great, Raven thought. The sarcasm was pouring in. He would win...
Nevertheless, she placed her foot firmly into the trunk, and started to climb. It was easy, almost. There were several footholds, and several places to lodge her hands into.
Slade, found it uncomplicated, even though it was harder for him. He weighed more (muscle weight, he hoped) and had a larger body to use.
He kept on going, and as did she. Since they were on opposite sides, he didn't know where she was.
On the other side of the tree, Raven was fully aware of Slade's position. Wherever the tree drooped slightly, then there he was. To make it worse for him, she always leant on where he was, making it droop further, and making it easier for herself. She smirked.
Slade reached the top, and to his shock, Raven was already there. He was overcome, and smirked when he saw her grin too.
"Don't get too arrogant, Slade, because this is what happens..."
Strangely enough, he didn't mind that she'd completed test. He wasn't even tired, just a little sore.
"Try this, Raven." Suddenly, he jumped off the edge, and down to below, landing in a crouch. He looked small. How could he survive a jump like that? Amazing...
She jumped, too, but had to use her powers to slow down. Raven felt free, gliding down. She crossed her legs, and as she came to the ground, she landed above it, hovering. It looked like she was meditating.
Raven stared up at the night sky. Just beautiful...It was clear, and nothing covered it. Here, everything was so different, and better? Just like Earth, but so different. Here, their two lives seemed so minute in comparison to that around them...but yet, she felt bigger in some ways, whether it was through the power of feeling stronger, or the fact that she had so much more control now...
Raven sat by the fire, watching the flames dance. Slade came to sit next to her, and she didn't find herself infuriated in any sense.
She lay down. Raven missed the Titans, terribly. She wanted to hear Starfire's strange English, hear Beast Boy make a joke, see Robin send her that smile of his, and have Cyborg comfort her...
You can do this, she thought. In her mind, she heard the Titans saying it too. She could and would do this, coming out improved; stronger, faster, smarter than ever before.
Slade was also lost in thought. He wondered what Wintergreen was doing in his absence. Probably dealing with rogues, he mused. He'd see his friend later, but now, what Raven and Slade needed was sleep.
As soon as he heard Raven's heavy breathing, he fell into his dreams.
-
The chapters really short, sorry. Chapter 16 will be packed to make up for it.
Well guys...R & R?
Thanks a bunch for reading,
And remember, the only shadow you're really safe in...is that of the pear.